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A TRIP TO FLORIDA. 



SPRING OF 1883. 



V 



By JOHN JESSIE BRUCE. 




CUMBERLAND, MD. 

THE DAILY NEWS. 

1883. 






V 



A Trip to Florida. 



Tuesday, April 3, 7(?,5*j. — This morning 
dawned a glorious bright day, and was hailed 
with delight by three very impatient persons, 
who were all excitement to leave the "■ Forest 
City" for the "Land of Flowers." These 
three were Mrs. George A. Mercer, of Savan- 
nah; Miss Hattie Cope, of Savannah; Miss 
John Jessie Bruce, of Cumberland, Maryland. 
The latter (the writer) was on a visit to Mis. 
Mercer, and she was going to take Hattie and 
me to Florida to spend a week. We were to 
leave on the steamer '' City of Bridgeton " at 
four o'clock in the afternoon ; so punctually at 
that hour we were on deck, waiting impatiently 
for the bell to ring. After waiting until half- 
past four, the Captain told us that the steamer 
would not leave until ten o'clock that night. 



11. 



So we left the boat, and Mrs. Mercer went up 
to her house, promising to meet us at Hamil- 
ton's store at six o'clock. Hattie, Mr. Botts (a 
brother-in-law of Mrs Mercer) and I roamed 
around the streets, bought candy, pickles, crack- 
ers and cheese. At six o'clock we were at 
Hamilton's, but Mrs. Mercer did not come until 
nearly seven. So we three, with Mr. Botts, Capt. 
Mercer, Mr. Robert Mercer and George, wended 
our way down to the wharf, and once again left 
terra firma and stepped on the steamer, there 
to remain until we reached Fernandina We 
had tea composed of our evening's purchases. 
As the boat moved off, Hattie and I stood on 
deck, and sang our favorite song, " Jaunita." 
After leaving Savannah in the dim distance, we 
sat in the saloon and read for an hour. Then 
we thought of bed, Mrs. Mercer had her state- 
room just opposite ours, Hattie and I having 
one together. In a short time our tired heads 
were on our pillows, and befqre very long we 
were all in the " Land of Nod." At one o'clock 
we awoke and thought certainly every moment 
would be our last. We decided to go to Mrs. 
Mercer and see if she could tell us what was the 
matter. She laughed at us, and told us that 
we were going through St. Catharine's Sound, 
and had grounded. Of course we were very 
much relieved, and went back to our own 
rooms, there to lean out of the window until 



111. 



nearly morning, eating pickles, cheese and 
candy. 

The first sound we heard in the morning 
was the breakfast bell, and we all hurried 
down to come back with that delightful meal 
untouched. Such a breakfast ! We sat on 
deck, and read aloud until dinner, which was 
at one o'clock. We did enjoy our dinner, and 
came up on deck to watch the boat nearing 
Fernandina, until we touched its shores. The 
water was filled with sails, and seemed like a 
beautiful picture. After leaving the boat we 
immediately took a carriage to drive to the 
ocean. The celebrated Amelia Beach is one 
mile from Fernandina, and the road is shells- 
The drive is not particularly pretty, there being 
no trees, and only palms of a stunted growth 
on either side. Some half mile from town there 
is a light-house, and from there you get the first 
glimpse of the ocean. We reached the beach 
about half past four, nearly high tide. It would 
be impossible to describe the grandeur of the 
scene ; it was awful ! Far away, some ten or 
twelve miles, there was one solitary sail battling 
with the waves. After driving around the 
beach for half an hour we turned our backs on 
old ocean, and a few minutes' ride brought us 
again into Fernandina We went to the Eg- 
mont Hotel, which is one of the prettiest in 
Florida. It is kept by Northerners, so of course 



IV. 

there is nothing lacking in the way of comfort. 
After resting there for a few minutes, we deter- 
mined to '* do" the town, but as Mrs. Mercer 
was too tired, we left her at the station in charge 
of the satchels, and Hattie and I walked around. 
The town is very old, but not very interesting, 
and the little there was to see we thoroughly 
enjoyed. About six o'clock we returned to 
Mrs. Mercer, and just as we had seated our- 
selves, the train for Jacksonville came snorting 
and puffing in. It did not wait long, and pres- 
ently we were hurrying along farther south. 
The country is painfully flat, and the scenery 
from Fernandina to Jacksonville anything but 
pretty. At eight o'clock we reached our desti- 
nation, took a tram-car and went directly to 
the Windsor Hotel. The house was full, but 
by some fortunate accident there was one room 
unoccupied, and in that one Mrs. Mercer, Hat- 
tie and I slept. We sat on the porch for a lit- 
tle while, but were so tired that we determined 
that bed was the best place for us. 

Thursday morning was one of the warmest 
days I ever experienced. We got up about 
seven o'clock. Of course the first thing vye did 
was to look out. We were delighted with the 
limited view obtained from a hotel window, 
and made numerous plans for the day. By 
nine o'clock we had finished breakfast, and 
started out to see the city. The Windsor 



House is generally considered the finest hotel 
in Jacksonville. Certainly it is beautifully 
kept. Directly on the other side of the park 
stands the St. James. There are three other 
large hotels in the town, beside numerous 
boarding houses. One peculiarity of Florida 
IS, that it has no theaters of any kind. The 
Episcopal church is a little beauty. The trees 
in Jacksonville grow to an immense size, and 
there are rows on each side of every street. 
The streets are not paved, and with a few excep- 
tions the sidewalks are made of planks. Of 
course the liveliest, as well as the most interest- 
ing place is the "bay." Here most of the 
stores are, and during the '* Florida Season " 
you might imagine from the number of people 
you meet that you were in one of the North- 
ern cities. We went into most of the curiosity 
stores, and saw alligators, birds, flowers, and 
every other animal and vegetable peculiar to 
the extreme south. After wandering around 
until half past one, we came back and sat on 
the porch, listening to some little negro boys 
singing darkey songs. At two o'clock we start- 
ed for the boat to go up the St. Johns. After 
waiting some time on the hot, dirty wharf, 
the bell rang, and we boarded the handsomest 
steamer on the river — the *' City of Jackson- 
ville " of the De Barry line. From Jacksonville 
to Palatka the river is very broad, being from 



VI. 

two to six miles wide. At six o'clock we 
stopped at Magnolia for a few moments. 
Almost beside Magnolia is Green Cove Spring. 
It is a beautifnl little place. We passed and 
had a glimpse of *' Mandarin " the well known 
winter home of the celebrated authoress of 
'^ Uncle Tom's Cabin," Harriet Beecher Stone. 
Just a little before reaching Palatka we pass 
Tocoi. Here the railroad runs to St Augus- 
tine, a distance of fifteen miles. At eight 
o'clock we reached Palatka, and Mrs Mercer, 
Hattie and I, under the chaperonage of the 
Captain, walked around the town. The hotels 
are very good, especially the Putnam House. 
At Palatka you take the steamer for the Ock- 
lawaha river The town is filled with taxider- 
mists, the most noted one being Mr. J H. Fry. 
After looking around for about an hour we 
went back to our boat. For some time we sat 
on deck, watching the lovely moon-lit waters. 
About eleven o'clock we went to our state- 
rooms, Hattie and I together, and Mrs. Mercer 
next to us. Just before reaching Palatka we 
came to Lake George. It is considered the 
finest sheet of water in Florida, having a sur- 
face of one hundred square miles, being twelve 
miles long by nine wide. That night we all 
enjoyed a good rest. 

Some time before Hattie was awake in the 
morning I was dressed, and watching the alii- 



Vll. 



gators and beautiful birds along the shore. 
We passed any quantity of pelicans, pink cur- 
lew, brown curlew, ducks and cranes. The 
river from De Land Landing to Lake Monroe 
is so narrow that you can reach out and touch 
the foliage on the banks. The scenery must be 
left to the imagination, for no pen can describe it. 
The trees are entirely different from the North. 
ern trees. The palms are tall and stately, and 
everything has a tropical look. After having 
a most delightful breakfast, we went up on 
deck, and saw in the far distance Sanford on 
one side of Lake Monroe, and Enterprise on 
the other, the lake itself being five miles wide. 
We reached Enterprise about nine o'clock 
Friday morning, landed and went up to the 
hotel, the Block House. After looking around 
there a few moments we went over to an orange 
grove, and Hattie and I climbed the trees and 
ate oranges to our heart's content. The fruit 
in Florida is the most delicious one can imag- 
ine. After getting on the boat again we 
crossed over to Sanford, and looked around 
there for a little while. About eleven o'clock 
we boarded the " City of Jacksonville " again, 
and once more turned our faces toward Palatka. 
We sat on deck and read until dinner, and 
after dinner went into our state-rooms to take 
a nap The heat was almost unbearable. 
About six o'clock we came out, had our sup- 



VUl. 

pers, and watched the river until we reached 
Palatka, which was about half past seven. We 
went directly to the Putnam House, expecting 
to stay there until the next morning. On our 
arrival two telegrams were given to us from 
Capt Mercer, saying that President Arthur 
would pass through Palatka at eleven o'clock 
that night, on the steamer " De Barry," and 
that he wanted us to meet him. At first we 
thought we would not go, as we were very tired, 
but after due consideration we decided to go 
to our rooms and take a little nap before the 
boat came in. So we unpacked our valises (we 
had only one dress each with us) and arranged 
everything for the night, told the porter to call 
us at half past ten, and then laid down to doze 
for a little while. The night was almost un- 
bearable on account of the heat, but we man- 
aged after eating a great deal of ice, and fan- 
ning vigorously, to sleep until a voice at the 
door calling " ten minutes until the boat ar- 
rives," wakened us from our much needed 
slumbers. We dressed in a terrible hurry and 
ran out on the porch to inquire if the boat had 
left. We found that it had not come, and so we 
determined to sit on the porch until we heard 
the whistle. Twelve o'clock came, and one, 
and still we had not left the Putnam. We 
waited patiently, eating delicious oranges, and 
doing our best to knock some sour ones from 



IX. 

trees in front of the hotel. About two o'clock 
we heard the boat and started for the wharf. 
When we reached there the " De Barry " was 
in, and " Alick," the President's valet, called 
out and asked if Mrs Mercer was there. When 
he found that she was on the pier, he told her 
that the President was asleep, but that he had 
engaged state-rooms for us, and wanted us to 
go up the river with him. Of course Hattie 
and I were in extacies, but Mrs. Mercer thought 
as we had been up the river there was no neces. 
sity for our going again. However, we begged 
and she consented; so with all haste imaginable 
we three plodded back to the hotel, packed our 
valises, and were on the steamer in fifteen 
minutes from the time we had left As it was 
so late, Hattie and I did not see the President, 
but Mrs. Mercer, being a near relative, had 
quite a little talk with him. Before very long 
we were all in the arms of Morpheus. 

The following morning Hattie, Mrs. Mercer 
and I went out on deck about nine o'clock and 
there met Mr. Phillips, the President's private 
secretary; Mr. Miller, a friend of President 
Arthur's from New York; Secretary of the 
Navy Chandler, and Reginald Fry of New 
York. We went to breakfast about half past 
nine. We had a separate table, and of course, 
were the " observed of all observers " Break- 
fast being over, we went to the aft part of the 



X. 



boat, and had a real jolly time until eleven 
o'clock, when the President walked out upon 
us Soon we found that he was bright, humor- 
ous and fascinating. About one o'clock we 
reached Enterprise, when a darkey came out 
and presented the President with an eagle. Of 
course he had no place to put it, so he kindly 
and politely refused. Arriving at Sanford at 
two, we went immediately to the Sanford 
House, where our rooms were engaged. We 
had one corridor on the second floor entirely 
to ourselves. Outside of all of our windows 
there was a beautiful wide piazza running the 
entire length of the building, and there we 
could sit and enjoy the delightful breeze from 
Lake Monroe After having some lunch, we 
got into buggies and drove to Belle View, a 
large orange grove, owned by Mr. Sanford. 
We there saw growing oranges, bananas, figs, 
pine apples, tea, coffee, pepper, camphor, 
lemons, Surnam cherries and numerous other 
tropical fruits. We were followed by four 
newspaper reporters. We drove home late 
that evening, and found a delicious dinner 
waiting for us. Just before going to the dining 
room, I was surprised by some one coming up 
to me and saying, " Is this Miss Jessie Bruce ?'* 
He introduced himself, and of course I imme- 
diately recognized in him the most stupid man 
that Cumberland ever sent forth. I excused 



XI. 



myself until after dinner, but before I was 
seated in the hall he came and asked me to 
talk to him. Of course I was obliged to do so 
I never knew the minutes to go so slowly. 
They seemed to have weights attached to them. 
We sat there for some time, I wishing that I 
was over with our party, and he thinking that 
I was an intensely uninteresting damsel Being 
Saturday night he left about half past eleven, 
and no one knows with what joy I joined my 
friends. Hattie and I had a room together, 
and Mrs. Mercers door opened into it. We 
walked on the porch for some time after going 
up stairs, and Hattie quite conquered the Presi- 
dent. We slept very soundly that night, and 
awoke about eight o'clock the following morn- 
ing. 

The night before Hattie saw an old servant 
that she was quite fond of, so she came in and 
talked to us for some time. Before we were 
ready the next morning (Sunday) Mr. Miller 
and Secretary Chandler were at our windows 
begging us to come and walk before 
breakfast. We had a nice little talk on the 
porch before President Arthur and Mr. Phillips 
were ready, consequently we had good appe- 
tites for a nice breakfast. About eleven o'clock 
President Arthur, Hattie, Mrs. Mercer, Secre- 
tary Chandler and I went to church. When 
we reached home about one, we did ample jus- 



Xll. 

tice to the lemonade and crackers which had 
been prepared for us. Hattie and I were very 
anxious to take a sulphur bath, so she and I, 
with Mrs. Mercer, started off in a partly covered 
wagon, with a little boy driving. On reaching 
the bath houses we immediately set to work to 
enjoy one of nature's own luxuries. Hattie 
tried to teach me to float, with a little success 
and a great deal of trouble. On our way home 
a terrific rain came up and I was wet through 
and through. Hattie and Mrs. Mercer were 
under cover and escaped with very little harm. 
When we reached our rooms I was in a peck of 
trouble, for we had brought only one change of 
clothing with us, and it was at the laundry. 
However I managed to have my clothes dried 
in the kitchen. When we went down to din- 
ner we had a good laugh. The gentlemen de- 
clared that we smelt so of sulphur that they 
could not have us near them. It certainly 
was a jolly party. After dinner we all walked 
on the piazza for a while, and then sat around 
and talked until bed-time, deciding to go down 
to Kissimee City in the morning. 

Monday turned out lo be a perfect day, and 
before anyone else was out, Mr. Miller and I 
were at the stores buying fish hooks. Eleven 
o'clock found us in a private car hurrying 
farther and farther to South Florida. At 
twelve o'clock we reached Maitland, and went 



xni. 

to see an orange grove belonging to Mr. Law- 
rence. We were very much pleased, but the 
day was hot and dusty and we were tired We 
took carriages at Maitland and drove to a little 
station three miles farther on, where we met 
our car again. At one o'clock we reached 
Rissimee, and were hungry and ready for our 
lunch, so we hurried over a hot, bare field to 
the steamer ** Gertrude," which was to carry 
the gentlemen to Fort Gardner for several 
days' fishing. In the saloon there was a nice 
lunch ready for us. As the President stepped 
on board, a gentleman of about sixty years 
came to him and introduced himself as Sir 
Philip Clarke, and begged to be allowed to 
join the fishing party. Of course there was no 
way of refusing him, and although he was in- 
tensely disagreeable, we managed to enjoy our 
lunch to the fullest extent. Kissimee City is 
filled with negroes of the darkest type. There 
are a few badly built houses and one inn. The 
people are very ignorant, and seemed surprised 
at finding the President a civilized human be- 
ing. This town is the furtherst south in 
Florida accessible by rail. After lunch, Mrs. 
Mercer, Hattie, Reginald Fry and I boarded 
the train again for San ford, leaving the gen- 
tlemen to fish for a few days on the lakes. Be- 
tween Kissimee and Sanford there is an ice 
fa6lory, and as neither Hattie nor I had seen 



XIV. 

one, we had the train stopped and went 
through it. We reached Sanford about seven 
o'clock, and went directly to the hotel for our 
dinner, after which delightful repast we went 
out to make a few purchases, then went to our 
parlor and sat there until bed time. 

Tuesday, April ic— We had breakfast about 
nine o'clock, as Reggie Fry expe6led to go 
home at eleven, but after waiting at the wharf 
for an hour we found that the steamer was 
very late, so he decided to stay until the next 
morning. Hattie and I went out to buy ma- 
terial to make ourselves waists to wear in the 
evenings. We bought large hats the evening 
before Hattie trimmed hers with blue ribbon, 
and I mine with white mull. We bought 
some lovely light blue nun's veiling for our 
waists and hurried home to make them so as 
to finish them before the President and party 
returned A dressmaker cut them for us, and 
then we sewed steadily until five o'clock, when 
Mr. Trafford came for us to take a drive. We 
came home about seven and after dinner Mr. 
Trafford and his better half made us quite a 
long visit, and when eleven o'clock came we 
were glad lo get to our rooms, not a bit afraid, 
though we were the sole occupants of the ho- 
tel, with the exception of the servants at the 
other end 

Wednesday, April ii. — We all went to the 



XV. 

boat with Reggie at ten o'clock, and on our 
return to the hotel found a telegram from the 
President saying that they would all be back 
in time for dinner. Of course we finished our 
waists and worked hard to do so. When the 
train came puffing into Sanford at eight 
O'clock, we all were on the porch waiting in 
eager expe6lation. Hattie and I went away 
into one end of the piazza, and left Mrs. Mer- 
cer to receive the party. After the usual 
'' how do you do ?" had been said, we heard 
the President say : *' Nancy, where are the 
girls ?" And nobody knows how glad we were 
to come from our hiding places and show our- 
selves. We went to dinner about ten o'clock, 
and it was indeed " the merriest meal of all " 
The gentlemen told all about the Indians, and 
what grand times they had had fishing. We 
were at dinner until nearly twelve o'clock, then 
went to our rooms, each ready for a good 
night's rest. 

Thursday morning found us ready and hun- 
gry for breakfast about eleven o'clock, and af 
ter that delightful repast we sat around upon 
the piazza, when Mrs Mercer, Hattie, Presi- 
dent Arthur and Secretary Chandler went for 
a drive. I went to my room expe6ling to 
spend the rest of the afternoon reading ; but 
before long I heard a tap at my door, and Mr. 
Miller and Mr. Phillips calling out : '* Hurry, 



XVI 

and come for a walk with us." It took me a 
very short time to make my toilet, and pre- 
sently we three were plodding through Sanford 
having a jolly time. Mr Miller bought Hat- 
tie and I each a very pretty bird, and Mrs. 
Mercer a white curlew's wing We went to a 
dry goods store, and he bought some blue rib 
bon for Hattie and I to wear with our blue 
waists, also some exquisite Irish point lace for 
my sleeves. When we reached the hotel we 
sat some time on the piazza, and when they 
returned from their drive, the President asked 
me if I would not take a drive with him, which 
invitation I accepted We came home ready 
for our dinners after a lively time, and were 
not too tired afterwards for the President, 
Hattie and Mrs Mercer to walk until twelve on 
the lower piazza, and Secretary Chandler and 
I to take the halls and upper porch. Mr. Mil- 
ler retired early, feeling unwell, and Secretary 
Chandler, Mr. Phillips and I had quite a talk 
after we had finished walking. About one we 
said " good-night," and I went to my room 
to wait for Hattie and Mrs. Mercer. When 
they came we talked until the **wee sma' 
hours." . 

Friday morning found every one of the 
party sick; Mrs. Mercer and the President 
feeling better, but all of us the worse for the 
dinner the evening before. We kept our 



XVll. 

rooms until about two o'clock, when Aleck 
came to the door and said : '* Mrs. Mercer, 
please be ready to leave on the DeBarry at four 
o'clock.' ' So, at that time precisely, we were on 
the steamer, about to look our last on dear old 
Sanford, where we had had such a glorious 
time. The evening was lovely, so we sat on 
deck until tea-time. After tea we came up 
again, and in spite of the lovely moon and 
pleasant company, Hattie and I tried to sleep, 
but in vain. About ten o'clock I started to 
bed, but when I went to tell President Arthur 
" good-night," he asked me to sit and talk to 
him for a while, which I willingly did. When 
I next decided to go, Mr. Miller insisted upon 
taking me to my state room door, but when 
we got there we concluded to sit on the other 
deck for a while. He sent down for some 
lunch, and we sat there until Mr. Phillips came 
and told me that Hattie was waiting for me in 
our state-room. 

Saturday morning we had only time to eat 
our breakfast before landing at Tocoi, where 
we waited for the train that was to carry us to 
St. Augustine. In about half an hour we were 
on our third railroad trip in Florida Mr. 
Miller amused us with funny jokes and songs 
until we reached the oldest town in the United 
States. St. Augustine is decidedly the nicest 
place in Florida. It has three fine hotels, the 



XVlll. 

*' Magnolia," *' St. Augustine" and '' Florida 
House" The old Market House Square and 
Cathedral, with Fort Marion, are the best 
known places of interest. The streets are nar- 
row, and one, Treasury street, is only seven 
feet wide. The sea wall is a great curiosity. 
It was built in 1835, ^"^ ^^ three feet wide on 
top, and is ten feet above high water mark. 
Every person visiting St. Augustine walks here. 
The view from the wall is magni^cent. The 
United States barracks is the oldest place 
there. The monument on the plaza erected to 
" the soldiers of St. Augustine who died for 
the South," is very interesting to us. The in- 
scription is 

OUR DEAD. 

Erected by the Ladies' Memorial Associa- 
tion of St. Augustine, Florida, A. D. 1873. 

In Memoriam. Our Loved Ones who Gave 
Their Lives in the Service of the Confederate 
States. 

Opposite St. Augustine is Anastasia island, 
celebrated for its quantity of coquina, which 
is not found anywhere else in the United 
States Most of the houses are built of it, as 
is also Fort Marion and the old Cathedral. 
We had to drive about a mile from the station 
to the city, so one o'clock found us at the 
Magnolia hotel, while the band played, *' See 
the Conquering Hero Comes." The hotel 



XIX. 



was quite full, but one corridor was given to 
the Presidential party. At five o'clock we 
drove to the barracks and there met nearly 
every person in St. Augustine. It was the even- 
ing of the review, and while the band was 
playing, Lieutenant Hawskinscame to me and 
asked if there was any especial piece of music 
I would like to hear, and of course I said : 
" O, yes, ' Maryland, My Maryland.' " I 
never heard it played so beautifully as it was 
then. Before going to the review, Mr. Miller 
and I went around to see the city, and he 
bought me a lovely palmetto hat, trimmed 
with pampas grass, an alligator-skin hand-bag, 
and a beautiful fan of pink curlew. After 
leaving the barracks, we drove until nearly 
dinner-time, when Hattie, Mrs. Mercer and I 
went out to buy a hat for Hattie, and some 
gloves for me. When we came home dinner. 
was ready, and we went dire6tly to the dining- 
room. While we were at the table Hattie was 
taken quite sick and went to her room, Mrs. 
Mercer following her. In a few moments I 
went up and sent Mrs. Mercer back to finish 
her dinner, and I stayed with Hattie the rest 
of the evening. About eleven o'clock Mrs. 
Mercer came up with some lovely roses from 
the Pldsident for Hattie and some strawberries 
for me. After talking some time we retired, 
with the assurance that Hattie was much bet- 



XX. 

ter. And so ended our first day in St. Augus- 
tine. 

Sunday morning, April 15 — We had break- 
fast about nine o'clock, and afterwards sat on 
the front porch for a little while. Hattie was 
not well enough to go to church, so she and I 
stayed home alone. We went to our parlor 
and Hattie tried to sleep while I read to her. 
After lunch, which was about one o'clock, we 
sat at our windows listening to the darkeys 
singing in church. At four, Hattie, the Presi- 
dent and I went to the old Cathedral for ves- 
pers. It is the oldest building in the United 
States, having been commenced in 1500. The 
windows are all in the top of the church. Af- 
ter vespers we went back to the hotel, and 
Hattie, Mrs Mercer and I wrote home. After 
dinner we all, with the exception of Mr. Mil- 
ler, went to the darkey church. When church 
was over we sat on the porch until bed time, 
and Mr. Phillips and I had quite a nice walk. 

Monday morning we decided to go over and 
see the " Tallapoosa,'' the steamer which was to 
carry us back to Savannah. About eleven 
o'clock, two or three of the officers of the 
" Tallapoosa," with Hattie and Ij^ drove up 
town to be weighed. At one o'clock we went 
to see the steamer. We had to go from 
the wharf in a steam launch to the ship, as she 
was anchored out in the bay. We found her 



XXI. 

to be a beautiful man of war, and were so de- 
lighted that we wanted to leave St. Augustine 
immediately and cruise around the coast. Mr. 
Phillips, Mrs. Mercer, Hattie, Secretary Chand- 
ler, Lieutenant Merry, Commander Kellogg 
and another officer and I got into a row boat, 
belonging to the '* Tallapoosa," which was 
manned by six sailors and towed by the steam 
launch, and went for a ride on the ocean. 
When we came to the first line of breakers 
Hattie and Mrs Mercer became afraid, so they 
decided to send the row boat back, and Secre- 
tary Chandler, Lieutenant Merry, Commander 
Kellogg and I determined to go in the steam 
launch as far into the ocean as was safe. We 
had crowds of fun. When we came back to 
the "Tallapoosa," Hattie and Mrs. Mercer 
were pale and sea-sick. Every one said that I 
was a good sailor and would not be sick on our 
voyage home. On our return to St. Augustine 
we went for a visit to Fort Marion, which was 
built by the Spaniards in 1558. It is perfectly 
wonderful, and the view from the top is grand. 
There is an old sergeant who sits at the entrance, 
and he took great pleasure in telling Mrs. Mer- 
cer, Mr Phillips, Hattie, Secretary Chandler, 
Mr. Miller and I the most awful tales of olden 
times. After listening to him for some time 
we left the fort. Hattie and I had a regular 
romp on the grounds just outside, and then we 
all went for a walk on the sea wall. 



XXll. 

Tuesday, and our last day in Florida ! Mrs. 
Mercer, Hattie, Mr. Phillips and I had break- 
fast alone, as Mr. Miller and- some friends had 
gone fishing, and President Arthur and Secre- 
tary Chandler had not made their appearance. 
About eleven o'clock Mrs. Mercer, Hattie and 
I went for a drive with Mrs. Hawskms. Hattie 
had lost a very valuable piece of jewelry the 
evening before, and it worried her very much. 
We thought possibly it might have been found 
in the Fort, so we drove directly there, but did 
not see it. After looking there without success, 
we went to a beautiful orange grove owned by 
Mrs. Bell. We had a lovely time, marred only 
by the fact that Hattie was so worried about 
the loss of the jewel — a badge — as it did not 
belong to her, but on our return to the hotel 
we were greeted with the words *• the badge is 
found." It seems that when we were romping, 
it had dropped off of Hattie's dress, and the 
old sergeant had picked it up and sent it to the 
President. That afternoon Hattie, Mr. Phillips, 
Mr. Miller and I went sailing with Mrs. Haws- 
kins and some of her Spanish friends. We 
had a delightful sail and the music from the 
armory was lovely. After dinner, which was 
at eight o'clock, we sat on the porch until 
eleven, when we started for the ''Tallapoosa " 
It W3is a superb night, and as we were about to 
tow off to the steamer the band played * * We 



XXlll. , 

sail the ocean blue," amid the cheering of the 
crowd and the mournful roar of the breakers, 
and the splash of the water as the boat rocked 
to and fro. On our way over, the tune changed 
to ''Maryland, my Maryland," and when we 
reached the steamer the music sounded beauti- 
fully. When we were safely on board, President 
Arthur and Hattie, Mrs. Mercer and Secretary 
Chandler and Mr. Miller and I went up on 
deck for a walk before retiring, and to watch 
the white-crested billows in the moonlight. 
The last sound we heard from dear old St. 
Augustine was the very faintest far-away strains 
of the ever-lovely melody of '' Home, Sweet 
Home," and so we looked our last on the 
*' Land of Flowers" where we had spent so 
many happy, happy days. 

J J- B. 



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